A BARBRI Professional Association
ACFCS.ORG
CFCS
RECERTIFICATION
HANDBOOK
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CFCS Recertification
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IANto renew your Certified Financial Crime Specialist credential. The financial crime field is in a state
Thank you forS applying
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of constant
C change, and financial criminals are always adapting their methods and techniques. As a result, it is essential
that Certified Financial Crime Specialists stay informed and hone their abilities on an ongoing basis. Your willingness to
recertify demonstrates your dedication to high standards in financial crime detection and prevention.
The recertification process is intended to ensure that Certified Financial Crime Specialists continually enhance their
knowledge and skill for as long as they hold the CFCS designation. To do so, professionals who hold the CFCS
credential are required to earn qualifying continuing education credits through experience, training and education.
All inquiries should be directed to the certification team at 1-866-596-7702 or [email protected].
TO RECERTIFY, APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT:
continuing education credits are required to be completed
• A completed Recertification Application (page 6)
within this three-year period. The Recertification
• A signed Continuing Education Verification
Worksheet on page 5 can help applicants determine their
Affidavit (page 7)
• Applicable recertification fee
credits. It also provides guidance on acceptable experience,
training and education, and the continuing education credits
assigned to each.
Applicants must also be current members of ACFCS.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
CFCS-designated professionals must recertify every three
years after obtaining the CFCS credential. Sixty (60)
ACFCS.ORG
Candidates will not be granted continuing education
credits for activities completed prior to obtaining their
CFCS credential or completed more than three (3) years
prior to the recertification period. All applicable
continuing education credits must be earned prior to
the recertification deadline.
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CFCS RECERTIFICATION DEADLINES
If the recertification deadline is not met, the CFCS
Recertification candidates are required to submit a
credential will lapse. Persons seeking to obtain the
completed CFCS Recertification Application, and an
credential again will have to do so by retaking and passing
evaluation fee, no later than the recertification deadline
he exam. An exam retake fee of $125 will be assessed, in
– which is three (3) years from the date indicated on
addition to the appropriate application fee.
your CFCS certificate, or three (3) years from your most
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
recent CFCS recertification deadline. To verify your
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
recertification date, check your member profile on
ACFCS generally relies on the applicant to self-verify
acfcs.org.
that they have completed the requisite number of
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continuing education credits. Applicants do not need to
(Exception: If you recertified under the previous two (2)
include supporting documentation with the recertification
(as indicated by the date on the credential) is November
1, 2016, you will have until November 1, 2019 to submit
your completed Recertification Application and the
recertification fee. In this instance, you must recertify
again through the same process by November 1, 2022,
regardless of the date on which you previously recertified.
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request them.
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For example, if the date you obtained your certification
The Recertification Application must be
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within your member profile on acfcs.org)
their supporting documents should ACFCS
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(3) year period. Your CFCS expiration date is located
application, but are advised to retain originals or copies of
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Upon your next renewal, you will be certified for a three
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year renewal period, your expiration date is unchanged.
RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION FEES,
TIMELINE AND SUBMISSION
1. ACFCS will not accept recertification applications
postmarked later than six months after the CFCS
recertification period. Applicants may contact the
Certification Department with questions at
1-866-596-7702 .
2. Checks, credit cards and wire transfers are acceptable
forms of payment.
submitted to ACFCS within six (6) months of the
The following application fees apply:
recertification deadline.
ACFCS Members $250, Government $200.
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Email completed form and supporting documentation to
APPLICATION REMINDERS
the Certification Department at
As a professional courtesy, ACFCS will send at least two
[email protected]. Please allow up to two (2)
emails reminding all CFCS holders before the end of their
weeks for review and response.
recertification cycles — one approximately six months
before the expiration date and one approximately three
months before the recertification deadline. ACFCS will
OF THE CFCS CREDENTIAL
send the reminders to the email address on file, so it is
If a CFCS-certified person fails to postmark an
very important that ACFCS be notified of changes in
application by six months after their recertification
contact information.
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DENIAL OF RECERTIFICATION & REMOVAL
deadline, the applicant must re-take the CFCS
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INTERIM REVIEW OF CONTINUING
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the section, “Extensions.”
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circumstances are described in Appendix B, page 9, in
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The only exceptions for documented extenuating
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examination to obtain the CFCS designation.
EDUCATION CREDITS
ACFCS will review during the recertification period, at
no cost to the ACFCS member, continuing education
documentation of ACFCS members to determine if the
submitted credits qualify and the number of approved
credits assigned to the activity. All supporting documents
submitted for this review must be accompanied by a
CFCS Recertification Interim Review Request form (see
Appendix A, page 8 – Interim Review Request Form).
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CFCS Recertification Worksheet
Sixty (60) continuing education (CE) credits must be earned within a three-year cycle following the year of certification,
or prior recertification. Please refer to the table below for guidance on applicable continuing education and applied credits.
CATEGORIES
CREDITS ASSIGNED
LIMIT—PRIOR THREE YEARS
TOTAL
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Full-time experience in fields related to
financial crime
10 per year
30
TRAINING
Attendance at a conference, workshop,
seminar, web seminar, symposium, or
education or training session on financial
crime topics
1 credit per
60 minute hour
Unlimited
EDUCATION
Obtaining other professional certifications
or licenses within the three-year
recertification period (includes CAMS,
CFE, CIA, or similar credentials with a
connection to the financial crime field)
5 per certification
of license
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TOTAL CREDITS EARNED
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CFCS Recertification Application
Please complete all parts of this application and send it with supporting documents to [email protected]
or by mail to 880 Blue Gentian Road, STE 140, Eagan, MN 55121
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full Name
Organization Name
Title
Street Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal Code
Country
Email Address
Daytime Phone Number
Evening /Cell Number
EXAMINATION FEE
Member, Private Sector — $250
Member, Government — $200
PAYMENT METHODS
Bill my Company
I previously paid ACFCS on (date)
Charge my Credit Card:
American Express
Discover
Mastercard
Visa
Note: Fees must be submitted by the stated deadlines and are non-refundable. Applicants who submit applications with the inappropriate payment will be
invoiced the difference and will remain pending until the full amount is paid. Fees may be paid by credit card or check payable to ACFCS. The applicant’s name
must appear on all payments made by check.
CREDIT CARD INFORMATION
Name on Card
Credit Card Number
Exp. Date
CVV Code*
Zip/Postal Code
Country
Signature
Billing Address
City
State
* The CVV, Credit Verification Value, code is usually a 3-digit code located on the back of your card, inside the signature area.
On AMEX cards, it is a 4-digit code located on the front above the account number. Orders without the CVV code will cause
processing delays. Visit ww.aceds.org for our cancellation/refund policy.
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Continuing Education and Professional
Experience Verification and Affidavit
I hereby certify that I have completed a minimum of sixty (60) approved continuing education credits within the prior
three (3) calendar years, referred to as the recertification period. I understand that no supporting documentation of the
continuing education credits requested on the CFCS Recertification Application is required to be submitted with the
CFCS Recertification Application, and that ACFCS reserves the right to request and review documentation to
confirm and verify, if necessary, the information submitted on the CFCS Recertification Application. I understand a
signed electronic copy of this authorization may be considered as valid as the original. In the event my recertification is
not approved, the recertification fee, less $25 for administrative handling, will be refunded.
Signature
Print Name
Date
Note: This form must be included with the CFCS Recertification Application to start the review process.
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Appendix A — CFCS Recertification Interim
Request Review Form
CONTACT INFORMATION
First Name
Last Name
Title
Company/Institution
Department /Unit
Zip/Postal Code
Country
Fax
Email Address
Mailing Address (No P.O. Boxes)
City
State/Province
Phone Number
PROPOSED RECERTIFICATION ACTIVITIES FOR REVIEW
Instructions
Note
The following documents are required to ensure a timely
Any recertification activity completed through
and accurate review of your recertification activity:
ACFCS is considered to be documented and assigned
1. A brief description of the activity, including what it
appropriate CFCS continuing education credits. Please
was (webinar, seminar, online training, etc.),
contact the Certification Department with questions
who or what organization hosted it, and what topic(s)
at 1-866-596-7702 or [email protected].
it covered.
2. Proof of attendance from the activity. This could
Submission
take a variety of formats, such as a letter from
Email completed form and supporting documentation to
supervisor on official letterhead, certificate of
the Certification Department at
completion, a program agenda, date of webinar,
[email protected].
or an outline of the training event.
Please allow up to two (2) weeks for review and response.
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Appendix B — Processing, Extensions,
Dormancy, and Lapsed Certfications
Processing
2. Applicants who have spent a significant amount of
To submit an application, you should review the application
time caring for a seriously ill family member or who
and policy. Once reviewed, complete the required
have suffered serious illness themselves.
information and sign the application and verification
forms. Please allow two (2) weeks from the time ACFCS
3. Applicants who are deployed to active duty in the
armed forces for at least a six-month assignment.
receives your application for review and notification.
If approved, the recertification expiration date will be
Extensions
extended for one year, thus allowing time to accumulate
Occasionally, extenuating circumstances, such as
the necessary continuing education credits. At the
prolonged unemployment or serious illness of the
end of one year, applicants will be required to submit a
applicant or a close family member, may prevent
completed recertification application form demonstrating
CFCS-certified professionals from meeting the required
that they meet the continuing education requirements.
60 credits of continuing experience, education and
The full recertification application fee is also due at that
training over a three-year period. One-year extensions of
time. Upon successful recertification, the new three-year
the recertification deadline can be requested under
recertification period will begin at the end of the
such circumstances.
extension period.
The extension may be granted only once during a
To request the extension, the following materials must be
CFCS-certified professional’s recertification period and
submitted prior to the applicant’s recertification deadline:
must be approved before the applicant’s recertification
1. A written request for extension explaining the
deadline. The fee to request an extension is $100.
Applicants may also choose to recertify by examination
extenuating circumstances.
2. Documentation of the extenuating circumstances,
on or before their recertification deadline at a reduced
which may include a letter from a physician, notice of
fee, as stated in the CFCS Candidate Handbook.
termination or receipt of unemployment benefits.
These are examples of persons who may be eligible for
3. The extension request fee of $100.
an extension:
4. A completed recertification application demonstrating
1. Applicants who have been out of work for at least one
the efforts to meet recertification requirements.
year of the three-year recertification period because of
a loss of job, child birth or child care responsibilities.
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Appendix B — CFCS Recertification Interim
Request Review Form
Ineligibility for Extensions
Recertification by Examination
Applicants who have not accrued the required 60
CFCS-certified professionals who are required to
recertification credits by the expiration date, or who
recertify by taking the CFCS examination must submit
cannot demonstrate extenuating circumstances, or have
a written request with payment. The cost to retake the
not submitted a recertification application before their
certification examination is $350 for members, $250 for
expiration date are not eligible for an extension.
government members. Fees may be paid by credit card,
check or wire transfer payable to ACFCS.
CFCS Certification Dormant State
CFCS certified professionals who are not able to recertify
The CFCS Examination Application is found in the
within six months of their recertification deadline may
CFCS Candidate Handbook, which may be downloaded
request that their CFCS certification be placed in a
on ACFCS.org.
“Dormant State.”
A CFCS certification in a Dormant State is inactive
until the member can provide ACFCS with the required
Recertification Application and supporting documentation
of the 60 continuing education credits earned within
the three-year period earned prior to the application to
reinstate the ACFCS certification.
The fee to request a Dormant State of the CFCS
designation is $50. The regular recertification fee at the
time of request to reinstate will apply.
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